ZOWIE! The abilities of ocean animals are AMAZING! The Santa Barbara Channel is home to animals with real-life super powers. Electric shocks! Slime on command! GPS in the brain! Seeing colors beyond the rainbow! The animals in the ocean outside our windows use their specialized body parts and capabilities to survive in the wild. This rich diversity of life makes the ocean a source of exploration, discovery, and wonder. This variety also sustains life through food webs and balance in related ecosystems. Each amazing animal plays a vital role in keeping the ocean healthy and vibrant.

Two-Spot Octopus
Alias: Morphius

SUPER SHAPE-SHIFTER! The octopus can alter its whole body
to fit through passageways and crevices the size of its eyeball.

Bat Star
Alias: Regenerator

POOF! Sea stars have an amazing ability to regrow their rays if they lose one.

Mantis Shrimp
Alias: Smasher

KA-POW! Mantis Shrimp throw punches with speeds up to 50 MPH and with the force of a bullet.

Spanish Shawl
Alias: Absorbius

ZAP! The Spanish Shawl is a nudibranch that eats hydroids. It absorbs the other animal's stinging cells to use on its bright orange spines to protect itself.

Warty Sea Cucumber
Alias: Elongator

STREEETCH! Sea Cucumbers have a complex set of muscles in their bodies that allow them to grow to
amazing lengths.

California Mussel
Alias: Mighty Mussel

HOLY TOLEDO! Mussels are strong enough to withstand even the toughest waves!

Monkeyface Prickleback
Alias: Monkey Face

GULP! This eel-like fish can breathe air and survive out water up to 35 hours.

Green Turtle
Alias: Navigator

VROOM! Turtles use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate around the ocean’s highway system.

Red Rock Crab
Alias: Crusher

SUPER STRENGTH! An average human male can grip something with a force of 112 pounds per square inch or PSI. A red rock crab can pinch with 177 PSI.

Opaleye
Alias: O2

BREATHE DEEP! Juvenile Opaleye are able to breathe air for short periods of time if they find themselves out of water.

Pacific Hagfish
Alias: Slimer

EWWW! Pacific Hagsfish can turn a bucket of water into oozy slime in just a few minutes.

Electric Ray
Alias: Electro

THWAPP, CRA-A-A-CK, ZZZOWIE! The shocking powers of electric rays can cause numbness and even paralysis.